NEW YORK/CARACAS: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was held in a New York detention facility on Sunday after a dramatic US operation, ordered by President Donald Trump, seized him and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a raid aimed at assuming control of Venezuela and its vast oil reserves.
The operation, carried out early Saturday, involved strikes on Caracas military installations and temporary power outages across the city. US Special Forces apprehended Maduro and Flores, transported them via helicopter to a US Navy vessel offshore, and later flew them to the United States.
“We will run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition,” Trump told reporters during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
Transfer to New YorkA plane carrying Maduro arrived near New York City Saturday night. He was then flown by helicopter to the city and escorted under heavy security to the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn. US authorities released images showing Maduro handcuffed and blindfolded during transit, later seen walking through the offices of the US Drug Enforcement Administration while reportedly wishing a “happy New Year.”
Maduro faces multiple federal charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, and is scheduled to appear in Manhattan federal court on Monday.Venezuelan Responded by introducing Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, as President.
Delcy denounced the operation as a “kidnapping” and called for the immediate release of Maduro and Flores. A Venezuelan court subsequently designated Rodriguez as interim president.
“President Maduro and his wife are the only legitimate leaders of Venezuela,” she said, vowing to defend the nation against foreign interference.
Trump indicated US troops could be deployed in Venezuela, asserting Washington is “not afraid of boots on the ground.” He emphasized Venezuela’s oil reserves, saying US companies would invest billions to repair the “badly broken infrastructure” and resume large-scale oil production.While US-backed opposition leader Maria Corina Machado hailed the operation as “the hour of freedom,” Trump expressed skepticism about her leadership, suggesting Rodriguez was more compliant with Washington’s plans.I
China condemned the US operation as a violation of international law, urging Maduro’s immediate release and calling for dialogue to resolve the crisis. France similarly warned against externally imposed solutions. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed “deep concern” over potential breaches of international law.
The UN Security Council is set to convene Monday at Venezuela’s request to discuss the situation.
The raid has intensified scrutiny of US intentions in Venezuela, raising concerns about unilateral intervention, resource control, and the potential destabilization of the region.